Conference FAQs
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Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQS)
As we have more information, we will update this FAQ list, so be sure to stop back and have a look. Have a question that you can't find the answer to on this page, email us!
REGISTRATION
How do I register for the conference?
If I want to pay by check, how do I register?
How much are the conference fees?
Who is considered a Staff Member?
Will I receive confirmation of my registration?
What forms of payment do you accept?
What is Verisign and is my credit card information secure if I use it?
What does my conference fee include?
What is the Chairman’s Dinner?
What is the Chairman's Circle?
LOGISTICS
When can I pick my ambassadorial luncheon?
What is the Embassy Reception?
Who else is coming from my council?
What is the cancellation/ refund policy?
Can my friend/relative come to just part of the conference for free?
Is there a limit on the number of people who can register?
Can I request a special meal?
Can non-members come to the conference?
What is the dress code for the conference?
AGENDA
Who has been invited to speak at the conference?
When will the speakers be confirmed?
Will there be an event on Capitol Hill?
HOTEL
What is the conference hotel?
How can I make a room reservation and what is the rate?
How far is the airport from the conference hotel?
What time is check in and check out?
What services are within walking distance?
Q: How do I register for the conference?
A: To pay by check or credit card, fill out our online registration form at http://www.regonline.com/WACAConference2008. You can also fill out this registration form.
The easiest way to register is on-line at http://www.regonline.com/WACAConference2008. Follow the directions to fill out and submit the on-line form using a credit card to pay the fees. You can even use the online registration to register multiple people for the conference. If you prefer to pay by check, register online, print the invoice at the end, and mail in your check.
To be registered we must have the following items: completed conference registration form and a check OR copy of your RegOnline payment receipt. We will e-mail you a confirmation when all fees and registration forms have been recieved. You are not considered registered until all fees are recieved.
Q: If I want to pay by check, how do I download the registration form?
A: You can still register online. On the last screen, you will be given the option to pay by check or credit card, choose check, and mail in your check.
Q: How much are the conference fees?
A: Rates are as follows:
Conference Fee Structure
|
Dates |
Member/ |
Spouse of |
Non-Member |
Staff |
Staff Spouse |
|
by November 15 |
$440 |
$415 |
$495 |
$395 |
$375 |
|
after November 15 |
$480 |
$455 |
$525 |
$395 |
$375 |
*Staff Member means a paid council staff member. Council Board members must pay at the Individual WAC Member rate.
Q: Who is considered a Staff Member?
A: A staff member is someone who is a paid council staff member. WACA instituted a staff rate at the request of the councils since in most cases the council pays for its staff to come to the conference.
Q: Will I receive confirmation of my registration?
A: You are are not considered registered until we have received your registration form and payment. You will receive three confirmation emails. The first will be from WACA and will confirm your on-line registration, the second will be from Verisign confirming you sent the fees and the third email confirmation will be sent from WACA within 2 weeks of receipt of ALL items (completed conference registration form and a check OR copy of your online payment receipt).
Q: What forms of payment do you accept?
A: We can accept checks or credit cards through the mail. If you wish to pay using Visa, Mastercard, or American Express, use Verisign.
Q: What is Versign and PayPal and is my credit card information secure if I use them?
A: Verisign and PayPal are eBay Companies. They enables any individual or business to send and receive payments on-line. They are some of the most secure ways to make purchases on the Internet. You do NOT have to set up a PayPal account to pay for your conference fees using PayPal.
Q: What does my conference fee include?
A: Your conference fee covers: Ambassadorial Roundtables, Embassy Reception, two Keynote Luncheons, Plenary Sessions, National Press Club Session, Friday Night Banquet, Discussion Groups, Coffee Breaks, bus transportation, and National Membership Meeting. YOU are responsible for: breakfasts (unless you choose to attend and pay the fee for the Trade and Investment Breakfast), other meals not part of the conference, raffle tickets, Chairman's Dinner, hotel expenses, taxi or metro expenses, and transportation to and from airports.
Q: What is the Chairman’s Dinner?
A: The Chairman's Dinner, hosted by Amb. James R. Jones, Chairman of the World Affairs Councils of America, is a special banquet recognizing a well-known individual for their life time achievements. The 2008 honorees are former Congressman Lee Hamilton and former Secretary of State James Baker, the Co-Chairs of the Iraq Study Group. While Secretary Baker will be honored at a special event in Grand Rapids during the fall, former Congressman Lee Hamilton will address the Chairman's Dinner. The Chairman’s Dinner is open to all conference registrants at an extra cost.
Dinner pricing is as follows:
Chairman's Dinner Fee Structure
|
Basic |
Benefactor |
Chairman's Circle |
|
|
Conference Registrant Pricing: Benefits: |
$350 Benefits |
$1,000 |
|
* Please note that Chairman's Circle membership is for one (1) person. If you would like to join the Chairman's Circle and bring a guest to dinner, you can register your guest at the $175 rate and we will seat them with you. However, we do encourage you to both register as Chairman's Cirlce members so that you may both participate in the special Chairman's Circle events throughout the year.
Q: What is the Chairman's Circle?
A: Chairman’s Circle is a high level advisory and support group for the World Affairs Councils of America. Members at the $1,000 level will have privileged access to the National Board and President. As a Chairman’s Circle member you will receive complimentary select seating for you at the dinner at the Chairman’s Dinner which is a part of national conference. You will also be invited to participate in special Chairman’s Circle programs throughout the year. These involve special events at the State Department, the Pentagon, the United Nations, and with the US military. These programs will also include meetings with Senators and Congressmen, Ambassadors and foreign dignitaries, senior military officials, NGO and business leaders, and figures from the media. Membership will include citation on the national website, special recognition at council events, and special mailings.
Q: When can I pick my Ambassadorial Roundtable?
A: In 2008, rather than Ambassadorial Luncheons, we will have roundtables that will enable you to choose the Ambassador with which you would like to meet during the conference. We will limit the room size to 30 people to allow for a more intimate discussion. As they become available, we will post a list of ambassadors we expect to participate.
Q: What is the Embassy Reception?
A: The Embassy Reception is your opportunity to see one of the many magnificent embassies located in Washington, DC. They will take place the evening of Thursday, February 7.
Q: Who else is coming from my council?
A: Check back to see the list of attendees.
Q: What is the cancellation/ refund policy?
A: If for some reason you cannot come to the conference, our generous refund policy follows. You can recieve a full refund minus handling fees if you contact us no later than December 15. From December 15 – January 15 you can recieve a 50% refund minus handling fees. After January 15, we cannot refund your conference or Chairman's Dinner fees.
Q: Can my friend/relative come to just part of the conference for free?
A: Unfortunately we do not offer partial registration for the conference. You may attend the Chairman's Dinner or the Pre-Conference Staff Workshops without registering for the conference. To participate in any of the main conference events, you must pay the full registration price.
Q: Is there a limit on the number of people who can register?
A: Registration is first come - first serve, so don’t wait to register. We will accommodate as many participants as hotel space will allow. However, we do have a registration deadline of January 15, 2008.
Q: Can I request a special meal?
A: If you have any religious or medical dietary restrictions such as kosher, halal, vegetarian, etc., we will do our best to accommodate you. Please let us know your needs when you register to allow us the maximum amount of time to handle your request.
Q: Can non-members come to the conference?
A: Non-members may register if accompanied by a member, although non-members are encouraged to join their local councils. If there are no councils nearby to join, non-members may register however priority registration is given to members.
Q: What is the dress code for the conference?
A: Dress for the conference is business and business casual. There are no black tie events.
Q: Who has been invited to speak at the conference?
A: A number of high-level experts from the U.S. government, private sector, think tank, embassies and foreign government have been invited. It is always hard to predict which invited speakers will come to the conference. As speakers are confirmed, we will add their names on our website.
Q: When will the speakers be confirmed?
A: The speaker invitation process goes on until the very last day before the conference. While we cannot say with certainty a date at which we will have all our speakers confirmed, it is fair to say most speakers will be confirmed by mid-January. Keep checking the conference page to see the most current list of confirmed speakers.
Q: Will there be an event on Capitol Hill?
A: The World Affairs Councils of America will not be organizing any Capitol Hill meetings. We encourage individual World Affairs Councils to contact their congressional representatives and schedule meetings with them.
Q: What is the conference hotel?
A: This year we have a new conference hotel - the JW Marriott Hotel Pennsylvania Avenue - located just blocks from the White House and with easy access to Washington's Metro rail system and many of DC's landmarks at the Metro Center station.
Q: How can I make a room reservation and what is the rate?
A: Rooms at the JW Marriott Hotel can be reserved by calling the hotel at 800-266-9432 (toll-free) and 801-832-4532 (international) or online at https://resweb.passkey.com/go/waca2008. Tell the operator you are attending the World Affairs Councils of America (WACA) conference and use the discount code "WACA 2008" to get the preferred rate of $239 single/double. You must reserve a room by January 15.
Q: How far is the airport from the conference hotel?
A: See the JW Marriott's website for directions from Baltimore Washington International, Ronald Reagan National and Dulles International Airports. A taxi from National Airport to the JW Marriott should cost between $12 and $14.
Q: What time is check in and check out?
A: Check in time is 4 pm and check out time is noon.
Q: What services and restaurants are within walking distance?
A: The area around the JW Marriott is right in the heart of downtown Washington. There are many nice restaurants nearby as well as drugstores, bookstores, and shops. It is also located across from the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center and the National Theatre. The National Mall and Smithsonian Museums are within walking distance.